The Royal Thai Government, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), co-hosted the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific (MC-5). The event took place from October 28–29, 2026, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The conference aimed to elevate and expand regional cooperation in applying space technology and geospatial information to drive sustainable socio-economic development across the Asia-Pacific.
The conference, convened at least once every four years, was attended by over 100 participants, including ministers, deputy ministers, high-level representatives, and experts from ESCAP member states, associate members, observers, and international organizations. Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MHESI, led the Thai delegation and honored the opening ceremony by delivering Special Remarks. He outlined Thailand’s vision and commitment to fostering regional cooperation in space technology and innovation, highlighting three strategic recommendations—the “3Ps”—to the assembly:
- People — Protecting lives and enhancing resilience and management capabilities: This involves integrating Earth observation satellite technology, modeling, and ground data with digital innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve monitoring, risk reduction, forecasting, and accurate disaster impact assessments. The goal is to transition from basic disaster mapping to highly effective early warning systems across the region.
- Prosperity — Building capacity and creating value from space technology: Thailand proposed the joint development of a robust space value chain encompassing the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. This entails connecting space agencies (such as GISTDA), research institutes, universities, and the space industry to translate research, expertise, and critical capabilities into commercial applications.
- Partnership — Connecting potential and moving forward together: The recommendation calls for upgrading from ad-hoc data sharing to fully interoperable regional systems. This includes jointly developing cross-border applications to address floods, droughts, and haze. Thailand stands ready to help connect ESCAP, member state partner agencies, and research networks to facilitate real-world use cases.
During MC-5, Mr.Danuphorn Punnakanta, Vice Minister of MHESI and representative of Thailand, was elected to chair the conference. The key outcome of the event was the adoption of the Bangkok Ministerial Declaration on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific. This declaration reflects the shared commitment of ESCAP member states to enhance and expand cooperation in space technology and geospatial information to implement sustainable development agendas and tackle critical regional challenges, including disaster risk reduction, climate change, natural resource management, social development, and food security. It promotes the integration of space science and technology with digital innovations—such as AI, Big Data analytics, cloud and quantum computing, and satellite communications—to bridge the technological divide. Furthermore, it encourages greater participation from the private sector, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), academia, research institutes, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
Thailand’s role in co-hosting and chairing MC-5 reflects its proactive approach and trusted leadership in coordinating and driving space and geospatial technology cooperation at both the regional and international levels. This marks a significant milestone in strengthening Thailand’s presence on the global stage and deepening its partnerships with the United Nations and allied nations to harness space technology in building a sustainable and inclusive future, ensuring that no one is left behind.
